2024/25 Taught Postgraduate Module Catalogue

DSUR5022M Research Methods Ethics and Statistics

30 creditsClass Size: 35

Module manager: Jenny Owen / Sandra Gibson
Email: j.c.owen@leeds.ac.uk / s.gibson1@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable

Year running 2024/25

Pre-requisite qualifications

Applicants must meet the programme entry requirements

Module replaces

DSUR5061M Introduction to Research Methods and Ethics (10 credits)DSRU5104M Statistical Methods (10 credits)DSUR5059M Core Epidemiology (10 credits) for MSc Dental Public Health, MSc Dental Materials and MSc Oral Surgery and Prof Doc Paed Dentistry pr

This module is not approved as an Elective

Module summary

This module offers the skills for conducting scientific research project. It includes education on project management, searching relevant information, reviewing evidence, academic writing, understanding ethical issues and safety, and being able to analyse data collected from research using appropriate methods.

Objectives

This module aims to enable students to develop the skills to undertake an independent piece of research, which demonstrates their ability to apply specialist level knowledge in the recognition of ethical issues. It will aim for increased understanding and implementation of appropriate research methodologies (including study designs, statistical analyses and inferences) and dissemination.

Learning outcomes
On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following learning outcomes relevant to the subject of being able to:
1. Demonstrate the ability to systematically search, identify and critically appraise relevant literature to identify gaps in research evidence to formulate an appropriate research question.
2. Apply in-depth knowledge and select methodology (including statistics) appropriate to answer a specific research question.
3. Demonstrate critical awareness of the moral and ethical issues associated with the conduct of research.

Skills Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following skills learning outcomes:
1.Work Ready –communication, critical thinking, argument, analytical, IT,
2.Sustainability - future thinking, ethical.
3. Enterprise: creativity and innovation, information searching,
4. Academic – critical thinking, presentation, numeracy, writing, language, integrity, time management, referencing
5. Digital – creativity, information, data
6. Technical – statistical data management, analysis, interpretation, presentation and communication, IT
a. Demonstrate a critical ability to systematically search, identify and appraise relevant literature to identify gaps in research evidence to formulate an appropriate research question.
b. Apply in-depth knowledge and judge the selection of appropriate methodologies (including the application of statistics) to answer a specific research questions.
c. Demonstrate a deep, critical awareness of the moral and ethical issues associated with the conduct of research.

Syllabus

The module will be delivered by a number of academic staff within the School of Dentistry over the first semester, as a blend of face to face lectures, workshops and online learning and computer practicals covering:

1) Skills underpinning research practice
Information retrieval and management
Development of library searching skills
Bibliography management
Academic writing requirements
Introduction to systematic reviews
How to formulate a research question
Planning and executing research
Evidence-based dentistry
Quantitative and qualitative research

2) Ethics and good research practice
The practicalities of gaining ethical approval for dental research
Special considerations in health and safety of laboratory and clinical research

3) Statistical Methods
Descriptive and inferential statistical as the key tool for investigating diseases in a population
Developing a professional attitude towards statistical methods
A range of statistical inferences (confidence interval, hypothesis tests, types of errors) used in dental research
Given each type of study design and collected data, being able to choose the most appropriate statistical test or modelling technique for a research question
Interpretation of statistical output from statistical software (e.g. SPSS) and presentation of results

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
On-line Learning	1	1.00	1.00
Drop-in Session	4	1.00	4.00
Lecture	1	1.50	1.50
Lecture	2	2.00	4.00
Lecture	16	1.00	16.00
Seminar	1	2.00	2.00
Tutorial	5	2.00	10.00
Private study hours			261.50
Total Contact hours			38.50
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			300.00

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Student progress will be monitored during tutorials and group learning activity which will be interactive and offer the opportunity to see how each student`s skills are developing.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Poster Presentation	Research protocol and ethics	30.00
Practical	assignment on statistics	40.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		70.00

The three assessment methods (poster presentation, exam, and assignments) all assess the learning outcomes, so these three assessments are compensatable

Exams

Exam type	Exam duration	% of formal assessment
Online Time-Limited assessment	2 hr 00 mins	30.00
Total percentage (Assessment Exams)		30.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 13/09/2024

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